How does SmartSip work?

SmartSip is a color-changing straw that detects the presence of common date-rape drugs like GHB, Rohypnol (roofies), and Ketamine. When placed in a drink, the straw reacts chemically if one of these substances is present—visibly changing color to a dark blue as a warning signal.

What do I do if my SmartSip straw changes color?

There are several important steps to take if your SmartSip comes out positive:

1) If you feel trapped, seriously endangered, or have no good way to leave the situation, call 911 immediately.

Campus safety officers can also be a great resource, especially if no one has been seriously harmed yet.

2) Report your findings to your friends and other party-goers you trust. You can also ask them to take you to safety or call for assistance if necessary. Going out with people you trust is always a huge safety precaution, and is crucial for handling these tricky and dangerous situations.

3) Leave the situation(ideally with friends or people you trust). Drink-spiking is very serious, and your well-being is more important than any social pressure or obligations. While prioritizing your own health first, it also may be wise to check on others in case they need help leaving the situation.

4) Keep your SmartSip! Keeping your color-changed straw can be used as proof of the attempted drink spiking and can be given to authorities as evidence.a

If you believe that you or a friend have consumed a spiked drink:

1) Seek assistance from friends or other partygoers immediately, and have them call 911 if you are unable to do so yourself.

2) Get tested as soon as possible—some drugs can leave the body within 12 hours.

3) Do not drink anything else alcoholic that night. If any drugs are in your system, alcohol will exacerbate their effect.

4) “Proper hydration is crucial after a suspected drink spiking incident. Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins from your system. Consuming light, nutritious meals, including fruits and vegetables, provides your body with essential nutrients to combat the effects of spiking.” —CounterSpike

5) Report the incident to authorities. Laws regarding drink spiking vary among states, with certain cases punishable with years in prison.

(Sources used: Metropolitan Police, Drinkaware)

What differentiates SmartSip from its competitors (test strips)?

A test strip is typically a one-time use, and if your drink happens to be spiked later in the night, than the previous test is rendered useless. It is also not discrete—wouldn’t someone just wait to spike your drink after they see you test it? SmartSip’s straw maintains constant contact with your drink, and is like a test strip waiting to activate and detect potential spiking. Our technology provides a significant upgrade over test strips and is a reliable defense against drink-spiking.

Do I need to do anything special to use SmartSip?

Nope! Just place the SmartSip straw in your drink like a regular straw. If any of the common date-rape drugs are detected, the straw will automatically change color to alert you.

What kinds of drinks does SmartSip work with?

SmartSip is designed to work with a wide range of common beverages, including cocktails, beer, hard seltzers, wine, soda, juice, and water. Extremely thick or opaque drinks (like smoothies or milkshakes) may reduce accuracy.

Does SmartSip affect the taste of my drink?

No. SmartSip is non-invasive and doesn’t release any chemicals into the drink. All materials used in SmartSip are food-safe and non-toxic.

Can I reuse the straw? How long does it last?

Yes! Unlike our competitors, our drug-detecting straw can be used many times and only needs to be disposed of after it changes color from coming in contact with a date-rape drug.

How quickly does it work and how accurate is it?

TBA

Where can I buy SmartSip?

TBA